I’ve noticed an increase in EMP/solar flare stories lately. It’s a great event for a novel since the circumstances become dire so quickly and you can jump right into the action of survival. I read another one recently that I thought you may enjoy: Terawatt.

This story is set in the summer in Texas at the beginning. The main character, Marc, is an out-of-work teacher at home trying to sell the family house. His son and wife are visiting her parents in east Tennessee. As he is mowing his grass in advance of a realtor showing, suddenly his cell phone quits and planes begin to fall out of the sky and crash. With no mass communication, people are clueless as to what has happened, though interestingly, it isn’t long before grocery stores are descended upon and fights break out. Desperation sets in quickly.

Marc tries to be a good guy in dealing with people and looks out especially for his elderly neighbor. Eventually, as the situation deteriorates and there is no end in sight, he decides he must make the trek to east Tennessee to his wife and son. He carefully plans what he should take with him and how to pack it. It dawns on him that his wife may not forgive him if he leaves her cat behind, which he hates, so he has that additional dilemma to consider.

As he travels, he is confronted with problems of when it would be safest to be on the road, which routes to take, and making split-second decisions about the intentions and motives of others. He later doubts himself and regrets the consequences.

Along the way, he becomes sick and one of the most interesting parts of the story (to me) is time he spends with the woman who nurses him back to health. Her husband had foreseen the likelihood of this solar event and they had taken very interesting precautions to prepare.

All along his journey, he reassured himself that his father-in-law, who was ex-military and a hobby farmer, would have been ready for anything and well-supplied to take care of his family in Marc’s absence. Everything is not as he had hoped by the time he finally arrives. In the new world that evolves, you have to choose your allegiances carefully.

This book is a little different than some I’ve read. The author writes in first person so you “hear” just about everything Marc thinks. That gives some interesting perspective and makes Marc a pretty well-fleshed main character. On the down side, that can provide “too much information.” You really see Marc with all his warts- lustful thoughts, etc. that we usually don’t like to think about. The author did a good job in making him very human and real.

Overall, I think most people who enjoy this genre will also like this book. I’d be curious to hear other people’s opinions.

The following article has been contributed by fellow prepper Luke Lichterman. It has been published with permission of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of PreppingToSurvive.com.

Sunspots are Electro-Magnetic Pulse events

The earth has always been subject to electro-magnetic events called “sunspots,” which are created by storms in the sun’s atmosphere and result in pulses of electro- magnetic energy being ejected into space.

Recently, NASA probes have made sunspots observable while forming, and predictable in their magnitude and estimated day of arrival on earth. When news media outlets learn of an impending sunspot arrival they sensationalize the event and breathlessly report that a major disaster and possibly the end of the world is about to happen. A recent sunspot event was hyped in this manner and passed with only minor disruptions and inconveniences because the earth is protected from sunspot damage by the depth, density and reflectivity of its atmosphere.

What the media never talks about is the debilitating wide spread damage which would be caused by an EMP (1) weapon detonated at high altitude within the earth’s atmosphere.

Starfish Prime

It has been known since the earliest tests of nuclear weapons that the high levels of Gamma radiation generated by nuclear explosions ionize air molecules producing electro-magnetic pulses of positive ions. (2) Theory held that while a 1 megaton-range surface weapon would produce severe damage within the radius of the burst, the same megaton-range weapon, when deployed at very high altitude would inflict damage to electronic devices over a wide area.

On July 9, 1962 a 1.4-megaton bomb, (codename: Starfish Prime (3) was detonated 250 miles above the mid-Pacific Johnson Island. The effects of this test were felt 898 miles to the East, in Hawaii, where telephone switchboards were disabled, civilian traffic control signal systems went dark and power system fuses and circuit breakers failed, causing blackouts in some areas.

On July 16, 1997 the U. S. House of Representatives Committee on National Security held hearings on the, “THREAT POSED BY ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PULSE (EMP) TO U.S. MILITARY SYSTEMS AND CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE.” (4) In summary, testimony was given that, …Based upon the unintended and unexpected consequences of Starfish Prime; a similar 1.4-megaton bomb detonated 250 miles above Kansas would destroy most unprotected microprocessors on the entire continent.

Nuclear Warfare Doctrine (5)

The image most people have of nuclear war is of hundreds of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) deploying thousands of Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) warheads, raining down death and destruction; leaving behind uninhabitable radioactive wastelands. Indeed, during the “Cold War” years, stalemate and “peace” were maintained between East and West by the doctrine of “Mutually Assured Destruction” (M.A.D.).

This old doctrine held that; to defeat an enemy, his economy, infrastructure and population must be completely destroyed. Modern nuclear warfare doctrine acknowledges almost total dependence upon microprocessors and their vulnerability to EMP destruction. It is no longer necessary to build and maintain huge arsenals of weapons, since even one high-altitude EMP burst could effectively paralyze an enemy’s ability to function.

This explains why major nuclear nations have reduced their nuclear arsenals. It is not because they have become “anti-nuke”, but because they have shifted strategic focus from Mass-Destruction to Mass-Incapacitation. An EMP attack by any nuclear-armed nation upon another, would involve only a handful of high yield weapons deployed strategically, at high altitude over enemy territory, to ensure complete electronic incapacitation. Among the major powers, M.A.D. continues to be applicable.

Rogue regimes like North Korea (6) and Iran however, could simultaneously each launch a single medium range ICBM, (North Korea has announced plans to launch a long-range rocket mounted with a satellite.), from a ship 50 miles off shore of the East and West coasts. These missiles could easily reach 250 miles altitude and get close enough to Kansas to destroy a large portion of our military and civil infrastructures. Missiles of this type, launched so close to our shores, would be impossible to intercept because recent political decisions have prevented development of missile defense systems for the Continental USA.

Hundreds of Millions (of Microprocessors) Die Within a Second (7)

How many microprocessors do you own? How many do you interact with directly? How many indirectly? Is that airplane overhead kept aloft by dozens of them? Do you have one on your wrist, in your pocket, on the desk in front of you, under the hood of your car, your television, radio, cell phone or anything else around you? Most of them would die within a second of a rogue-nation EMP attack.

The refrigerator in your kitchen has a microprocessor and is energized by electricity, generated in a facility full of them, and routed to your home by the National Electric Power Grid, which would shutdown within that same second. Most vehicles of any description produced after 1980; cars, trucks, busses, motorcycles, police cruisers, fire engines, ambulances, locomotives and almost everything else would either stop in place within that second, or never again move from where they sat.

Airplanes would fall out of the sky, vehicles traveling at 70 MPH would lose control, implanted pacemakers would no longer regulate heart function and every manner, type and description of high tech medical equipment would fail.

Those microprocessors that were not destroyed immediately would be rendered useless because their companions were destroyed. Vehicles not disabled immediately might continue to operate, if they could escape dead-vehicle gridlock, but would soon need and be unable to be refueled because the power grid no longer energizes pumps. Freezers and refrigerators in supermarkets and food processing plants would no longer function, and store shelves would be stripped bare within hours.

Hundreds of Millions (of People) Die within a Year

Even though an EMP is not radioactive, it is estimated that 5 to 10% of the entire population would become casualties within 24 hours, due to vehicular crashes, medical support failures, industrial malfunctions, other loss of power and control incidents and panic. It is further estimated that up to 90% of the entire population would perish within the first year as a result of crime, rioting, starvation/dehydration and of course disease, injury, untreated major medical emergencies and suicide.

Those who survive the initial 24 hours stand a fair chance of surviving the first year, if they had been smart enough to make survival preparations, were lucky enough to be able to get to their hardened position and supplies; and are able and willing to defend their supplies and the remnants of their families without hesitation and with whatever level of force is necessary.

The first year will be a time of savagery, darkness and desperation unprecedented in human history. Within a few days after water has stopped flowing and the last scraps of food have been consumed, the cities will have largely become ghost towns. Entire populations will have fled to the countryside in search of food, water and comfort. Millions upon millions of desperate, starving people will become like swarms of 17-year locusts, but with intelligence, cunning and malice. All pretense of civility will have been discarded and three-week survivors will appear and act very much like “zombies” depicted in recent “B” grade movies.

It will be ugly beyond imagination and challenging almost beyond endurance. The only people who will survive until some kind of order is restored, some level of commerce resumes and whatever “normal” becomes, will be those who were prepared, and hard-headedly willing, to survive.

Survival Preparedness for an EMP Attack

There is no preparing to survive the aftermath of an EMP attack, as a specific type of preparedness. Survival preparedness is the same for whatever disaster aftermath you are preparing to survive; it is nothing more than providing that which you know your family needs, in sufficient quantities to support survival for up to a year after the event.

Your Family will need:

To be water self sufficient, because nothing will come out of your faucet or what does come out will be unsafe to drink.

Long Term Bulk Food Storage, because the food supply chain will have ceased to function and there will be no deliveries to stores.

A SURVIVAL STOVETM and lights, because the National Electric Power Grid will no longer brighten the darkness, cook your food nor keep you warm.

First Aid Kits, because there will be minor injuries which must be prevented from becoming major problems.

Survival Garden Seeds and hunting weapons, because there’s a limit to how much food you are able to buy and store.

Your family will need more, much, much more; including guns of substantial caliber and firepower to defend against the attacks which are guaranteed to be launched against you. As important as having guns is training every member of your family how, when, (and to be willing), to use them.

Being prepared to survive the aftermath of any disaster, but especially an EMP attack, does not guarantee that you will survive. What is guaranteed is that if you are not prepared, you will not survive. No one will prepare you to survive! You must do it yourself and you must start now. If not you, who? If not now, when?

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]]>https://preppingtosurvive.com/2012/03/23/surviving-the-aftermath-of-an-electro-magnetic-pulse-emp-attack/feed/23the devastation caused by an emp burstJoethe devastation caused by an emp burstelectronics destroyed during an empHow to Be a Good Refugeehttps://preppingtosurvive.com/2011/08/04/how-to-be-a-good-refugee/
https://preppingtosurvive.com/2011/08/04/how-to-be-a-good-refugee/#commentsThu, 04 Aug 2011 12:00:16 +0000http://preppingtosurvive.com/?p=1128You’ve been reading this site (and others) and you’ve heard the alarming reports in the news, but you’ve been busy and just couldn’t seem to get started in your preparedness. Or, you’ve taken some concrete steps (you have a rain barrel to collect water and you’ve started buying extra non-perishables each month) but you live in the city and now it’s too dangerous to stay. You’ve got to get out.

What do you do?

I hope you have given thought to what you would do if you couldn’t stay where you are. If you don’t have a back-up plan, now is the time to make one.

If you had to flee your home (think forest fire, rioting, flooding, chemical spill, etc.), where would you go? Do you know anyone with an extra room or two who lives far enough away from you to be unaffected by your problem, but close enough to get to quickly? Do you think they would be willing to take you in during a true emergency? You need to find out. (And be sure to make them the same offer if roles are reversed).

What should you take?

The answer to this depends on a few things:

How long will you need to be away from home?

What do you have to contribute?

What are you able to transport?

Length of Stay

If you expect to need a place to stay for a few days (like until utilities are restored after an ice storm), you are pretty much packing for a long weekend. Take clothes, toiletries, medicines, cell phones & chargers, etc. and money to purchase other items as needed.

If you think your stay may be extended, of course take the above items, but try to think about how you can make the time better for everybody by contributing to group. Try to anticipate your own needs so others don’t have to meet them. Then see how you may be able to ease the load of the kind people offering you shelter.

What if lots of other people have the same idea? If you are part of a large extended family, it could be that Uncle Bob’s cabin in the woods is suddenly really popular. Do you have a camper or tent in case “there’s no room in the inn”?

If you know you will likely not come back for a long time, think in terms of what you need for the next 3 months or more. Make sure you have any documents you may need (birth certificates, proof of residency, mortgage info, and the like). Bring all the cash you have on-hand, your checkbook, and any other valuables. Take a good selection of clothing for the next season. If you have tools, boots, flashlights, radios, fishing poles, guns, and so on, bring them. It would probably be a good idea to bring all the non-perishable food items you can fit also.

Contributions

Do you have a freezer full of food that will likely go bad anyway? Put it in coolers and bring it along. Do you have a stash of candles you could share? Do you have some good diversions for the children that will be present? If it’s harvest season on the farm, bring your gloves and work jeans along and plan to help out.

Transportation

If at all possible, you will want to drive your own vehicle(s) to your destination. Have you considered what you would do if that’s not possible? Do you have bicycles, wagons, or some other way to take what you need? Do you have backpacks you can fill up? Is there any reliable mass transit system you could use? What route would you take? Is it the same one that everyone else will be trying to use at the very same time?

This is really just the beginning of the things you should consider. Everyone really should have a Bug Out Bag in their vehicle or ready to grab at all times, but that is a topic for another time. If you were going to take in refugees, what would you want them to bring along?

A Final Thought

If your stay at your emergency location is short, people may act as if they are on a get-away weekend or “camping adventure.” Having fun is certainly a fine goal, but please remember that you are a guest and show your gratitude. Uncle Bob may be thrilled to have a family reunion at his place, but be ready to pitch in and chop the wood for that campfire, offer to wash the 30 dinner dishes, or anything else that needs doing.

If your stay turns out to be extended (extended civil unrest, no water/electricity, etc.), plan on seriously earning your keep. While your family/friends may be glad you are there, that will quickly change if you are a burden rather than a help. You are not on vacation- you are being graciously provided shelter (security, food, etc) by people that put aside supplies to provide for their own families and are sharing with you. It’s important that you not take that for granted. The welfare of the group depends on each member.

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https://preppingtosurvive.com/2011/07/15/the-prepper%e2%80%99s-notebook/#commentsFri, 15 Jul 2011 12:00:27 +0000http://preppingtosurvive.com/?p=1146The internet provides a wonderful encyclopedia of information on every topic imaginable. I could easily lose hours jumping from one topic to another following links in the sidebars of blogs and news articles. I frequently download or copy and paste information into “documents” to refer to later. But have you ever considered what you would do for information if your computer stopped working?

Build Your Own Library

We have collected a nice library of books on animal husbandry, gardening, wilderness survival, plant identification, nutrition and cooking, sewing, and so on. They are fantastic references that we will no doubt go to time and again.

Sometimes, though, the topic of interest isn’t book-length or not available as a book at all. Maybe it is a magazine article or chart or checklist. It’s great to have a copy saved on your computer, but in the case of an extended power outage or EMP, that won’t do you much good.

I suggest that you begin printing copies of everything you save on your computer and put it in a large notebook (or two or three). Our main notebook is a 4 inch heavy duty binder with lots of subject dividers. Here are some of the titles on the tabs:

Preparedness Supply Lists

Food Storage Info

Recipes Using Food Storage

Health Care Info

Homemade Versions of Store Bought Items

DIY Directions

Forage Plant Info

Solar Power/Electricity

Prepare For Life Without Google

It is part of the prepper’s mindset to prepare for contingencies and a very significant one would be the need for information, especially in difficult times. Try to get in the habit of making a copy of all the bits of information that you have gotten in the habit of “just googling.”

Homemade laundry detergent recipe? Chart listing what vitamins are found in which foods? Rhyme for remembering which berries are poisonous? Instructions for making rechargeable solar nightlights for the kids? Print ‘em and file ‘em!

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https://preppingtosurvive.com/2011/05/27/book-review-lights-out/#commentsFri, 27 May 2011 12:00:29 +0000http://preppingtosurvive.com/?p=638How long would it take for the foundations of society to begin to erode once the conveniences that we take for granted, that we depend on, are no longer available? What if the electricity was suddenly switched off? What if clean, drinkable water became a scarcity within a week? What if food was rationed and then wasn’t available at all?

Just how long would our civility last? How long would it be before everyday life would denigrate into the lawlessness of the wild west?

Life After An EMP Attack

In Lights Out, David Crawford explores these questions in a compelling and engaging way. The fictional, yet realistic, novel is set in a small town near San Antonio, Texas, shortly after an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) eliminates most of the America’s modern conveniences. No one is sure what has happened or how long it’ll last. The government promises relief and a quick return to normalcy, yet the threads that keep society woven together continue to unravel.

Residents of the small town must learn to work together while coping with hardships and surprises along the way. Interpersonal conflicts arising from strong-willed characters, life and death decisions that must be made with imperfect information, and the constant struggle for survival in a new reality make this book a good read for the prepper and non-prepper alike.

Not A SOP Book

As with other EMP novels, purists may disagree with the specific effects of an EMP that the author incorporates in the story. However, Crawford seems to have done quite a bit of research into the subject and his projected implications are certainly plausible.

At times, some technical aspects of how the residents adapt are significantly glossed over. For example, the main character finds that many of the affected vehicles can be retrofitted with older parts so that they can run again. No details are given on how that’s accomplished. But this is not entirely bad.

Unlike Rawles in Patriots, Crawford errs on the side of caution when providing technical details. This book is not intended to be a crash course in Standard Operating Procedures guised as a novel. Instead the storyline is put first and this works well.

A Read Worthy Of Your Time

In my opinion, Lights Out stands on its own as a good work of literature. You can lend your copy to non-prepper friends and use it as a way to help introduce them to the need for preparing for an uncertain future.

Life After An EMP

That’s the subject of William Forstchen’s fictional novel One Second After. In it Forstchen explores how life would dramatically change in a split second for a small American town as a result of a coordinated EMP attack over U.S. soil.

If you have a romanticized notion of life without modern day conveniences, this book will be enlightening. The challenges and tough decisions faced by the townsfolk as food becomes scarce, medical supplies expire, and roving gangs of voilent refugees roam the countryside looking for their next prey are eye-opening.

Although some of the author’s assumptions about the affects of an EMP are debatable, his assessment of the resulting chaos and subsequent struggled are soberingly realistic.

If you are a prepper, you’ll likely enjoy this book. And more importantly, if you are sitting on the fence, unsure of the wisdom or need for prepping, consider it a must read.